As a member of the newly reconstituted Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, I am interested in connecting with other Episcopalians, both within this diocese and beyond, who are engaged in environmental ministry.

With this blog, I intend to pull together a variety of resources--links to what is happening in the wider Episcopal Church, books, programs, other diocesan ministries--to assist Fort Worth Episcopalians in theological and practical engagement with the environment, both locally and worldwide. In addition, when possible, I am posting my own reflections as an experiment in reading the daily lectionary through an environmental lens. These reflections are purely my own and do not necessarily reflect an official position of the Episcopal Church.

I look forward to engaging in conversations with others with similar concerns.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Ezekiel 1:28-3:3 Hebrews 4:14-5:6 Luke 9:28-36 (NRSV)

How do these readings help us reflect on our relation to the natural environment? I notice that in both the Ezekiel and the Luke passage, the glory of God is pictured in terms of nature. But we must remember that “nature” is not merely the romanticism of rainbows, but also hold the potential for awe. In the Luke passage we encounter the frightening experience of suddenly being overtaken by cloud on a mountain. It is a disorienting experience; the senses one normally uses to orient oneself to the world are stilled. The inability to see gives a feeling of directionlessness; the only compass available to us is trust. Their senses stilled, the disciples hear the voice of God and are pointed to the true Compass of Christ.

What would it mean for Christ to be our compass for how we relate to the natural world? How do we usually orient ourselves? Convenience? Comfort? Economics? Politics? What would happen if we were to tune in to the voice of Christ as the primary compass by which we behaved with regard to the natural world today?

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